Don't Recycle Paper

It's bad for the environment. Really. I know we've been told since the late 60's that we need to recycle paper in order to save the planet, but it's just not so. Here are some compelling reasons why:

1. Transporting recycling materials increases the use of petroleum and electricity. Most of our electricity in this country is still generated by burning fossil fuels. See where this is going?
2. Before paper can be recycled it must be de-inked. Commercial recycling of paper requires the use of toxic chemicals to de-ink the paper. These chemicals are non-recyclable and are extremely hazardous to the environment. http://www.treecycle.com/papers/we_lived.html


3. Recycling paper requires huge amounts of energy input from non-renewable fossil fuels, much more than is used for recycling plastic. http://www.reusablebags.com/facts.php?id=7


4. Commercial recycling of paper puts money in the pockets of huge corporations, at the expense of the environment.

So, what's a Druid to do?

1. Use less paper. This is the single most important thing you can do. I make an effort to find products in reusable packaging, such as glass or metal.


2. Precycle. The second most important thing you can do is to be more selective about the paper that you do purchase and use.


3. Reduce paper recycling by collecting other people's paper. I use old phone books and newspapers as foundation fill for my rainwater harvesting landscape. It raises ground elevation quickly, and it breaks down beneath the soil on its own with no additional energy input.


4. You can shred it for compost, even bury it in your yard.


5. Just don't burn it, trash it, and especially, don't recycle it.